Grenfell Fire Response News, Issue 2, June 25, 2017

25 June 2017
Issue No: 2

Grenfell Fire
Response News

Air quality issues Dr Deborah Turbitt, health protection director for

following the fire Public Health England in London, said:

Public health experts
continue to provide specialist
advice and testing following
the tragedy at Grenfell Tower.

Air quality tests are being
carried out by Public Health
England (PHE), which is
advising on air quality, smoke
exposure, asbestos and
other potential risks.

The risk to people’s health
as a result of the fire, beyond
those directly affected, is low.

What is this
newsletter for?

This is the second edition
of the Grenfell Response
Team newsletter. We
want to keep you up to
date with all the latest
information about what
is happening and the
services that are available
to help. For up to the
minute info please follow
us on Twitter

@grenfellsupport and on

Facebook at facebook.
com/grenfellsupport
and visit www.gov.uk

‘We have been assessing air quality over the past week
in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire and this shows no
detectable deterioration in air quality. Our advice is that
the wider risk to people’s health as a result of the fire,
beyond those directly affected, is minimal.

People who were close to the scene last week and
exposed to smoke from the fire may have experienced
irritation to their air passages, skin and eyes and
respiratory symptoms including coughing and wheezing,
breathlessness, phlegm production and chest pain.

People who have ongoing concerns about their
symptoms should call NHS 111 for medical advice.

We know that bound asbestos, contained in building
materials such as plaster or fibre board, was present in
Grenfell Tower in ceilings and header panels inside airing
cupboards. It is possible that very small amounts of
asbestos fibres will have been dispersed within the smoke
plume, but would have formed only a small fraction of the
smoke and particles released in the fire; all smoke is toxic
and any asbestos would present a minimal additional risk
to health.

Asbestos related diseases are typically associated with a
long term workplace exposure to high levels of airborne
asbestos fibres.

Safety officers working with teams currently on the site
have tested the air within Grenfell Tower for dust and
asbestos and have not detected any levels of concern.

When work commences to clear the site there will be a
system of engineering work that will prevent any asbestos
being released from the site and a programme of regular
environmental air monitoring conducted to ensure that both
contractors and local residents are not put at any risk. ”

Grenfell Fire Response News

25 June 2017

Bereavement

support

Freephone helpline

0808 808 1677

24 hours a day.

helpline@cruse.org.uk

Replacement UK
passports, visas
or immigration
queries

0300 222 0000

(outside the UK

+ 44 ( 0)300 222 0000 )

24 hour advice line.

Air quality and
smoke exposure

People who have
concerns about any
symptoms should seek
medical advice
or call NHS 111.

NHS Mental health
support

0800 0234 650

24 hours a day.

cnw-tr.spa@nhs.net

VICTIM SUPPORT

Free emotional and
practical support
for anyone affected.

0808 1689 111

24 hours a day.

victimsupport.org.uk

Financial assistance update

• As of 9am on 24th June, El ,232,040 has been
distributed to affected families.

• This is made up of a E500 cash payment and £5,000
delivered through DWP into bank accounts or similar in a
single payment, along with discretionary payments made
by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

• 100 households have been given the £5,000 payments

Housing update

We have offered emergency hotel accommodation in the
local area to everyone who needs it.

Flousing numbers across Grenfell Tower, Grenfell Walk
and the cordon area are:

• In total there are 373 households in emergency
accommodation.

• 140 hotel placements have been made for people living
in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk.

• There are also 109 additional households now in hotels
from the wider affected area.

• 162 keyworkers are supporting people affected.

• There have been 79 additional high-vis workers,
including 38 Red Cross in the centre and undertaking
community liaison.

Work is now taking place to assess the housing needs
of all Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk families to identify
longer-term accommodation in the Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea and neighbouring boroughs.

• So far 153 housing needs assessments have been
completed.

• 68 new build flats as part of the Kensington Road
development in the borough will be provided to
re-house residents from Grenfell Tower. These will
be ready by the end of July 2017.

Grenfell Fire Response News

25 June 2017

Public Health
England answer your
questions about air
quality and asbestos

Do I need to be concerned
about air quality as a result
of the fire?

Public Health England is
regularly assessing air quality
in relation to the tragedy
at Grenfell Tower. This has
shown no detectable drop
in air quality. Three new air
quality monitors were installed
in the immediate area of
Grenfell Tower on Saturday by
an independent environment
company. Initial readings
suggest low levels of pollution,
but PHE will continue to
closely monitor all relevant
readings to ensure the best
advice is given.

The pollen levels in London
have been high throughout
this week and are forecast
to remain at high levels - this
may, as it would have done
before the fire, cause some
people to have symptoms
such as irritated nose and
throat. Our advice is that
there is a very low risk to
people’s health as a result of
the fire, beyond those directly
affected.

Could being close to the
Grenfell Tower Fire have
made me unwell?

People who were close to
the scene and exposed to
smoke from the fire may have
experienced irritation to their
air passages, skin and eyes,

and respiratory symptoms,
including coughing and
wheezing, breathlessness,
phlegm production and chest
pain.

What should I do if I am
concerned about my
symptoms?

People who are worried
about their symptoms should
consult their GP or call the
NHS on 111 for medical
advice.

Was there any asbestos in
Grenfell Tower and could it
make me unwell?

We know that asbestos
contained in building
materials, such as plaster
or fibreboard, was present
in Grenfell Tower in ceilings
and header panels inside
airing cupboards. It’s possible
that very small amounts of
asbestos fibres will have been
dispersed within the smoke
from the fire, but any health
risk due to asbestos is very
low.

What tests are being done
to monitor the risk to
people’s health?

Safety officers working with
teams currently on the site
have tested the air within
Grenfell Tower for dust and
asbestos and have not
detected any levels to be
of concern. When work
starts to clear the site there
will be engineering work to
prevent any asbestos from
being released from the site.
An ongoing programme of

regular environmental air
monitoring will continue to
ensure that people are not put
at risk.

I handled some debris
from the fire and I breathed
in some dust. What should
Ido?

If you have breathed in dust,
it is likely to be a relatively
small amount. This single,
short term exposure will not
significantly affect your health.

I have returned to my
home and there is still a
smell. Would an air purifier
help?

If your home has an
unpleasant smell lingering
as a result of the fire it would
be a good idea to open the
windows and let fresh air
circulate to clear the smell.

We would expect the smell
to have disappeared before
purifiers could be found,
installed and have any
noticable effect.

Where can I find out more?

More information on air quality
from Public Health England
can be found on their website:

https://www.gov.uk/

government/news/public-

health-advice-following-

the-grenfell-tower-fire

For 24/7 health advice ring

111

For practical and emotional
support, please contact the
Red Cross Helpline: 0800
4589 472

Grenfell Fire Response News

25 June 2017

What help is
on offer?

If you come to the
Assistance Centre at

Westway Sports
Centre, Crowthorne
Road, W10 6RP you will
be able to access services
and support provided by
the team from 9am -11 pm.

A Red Cross helpline
is in action to help give
practical or emotional
support to anyone who
needs it.

The number is

0800 4589472 .

This is available 24 hours
a day.

Any family and friends
concerned about
their loved ones are
asked to contact the
Metropolitan Police on
0800 032 4539

If you have been
affected and have any
other questions about
the support available,
please email support@
grenfellresponse.org

Please do not send any
personal data like bank
details or your address
to this email account -
rest assured when we
contact you, we’ll get
any additional information
we need.

Assistance Centre

The centre has been opened
to provide information and
support to residents of
Grenfell Tower and those
living nearby who have been
directly affected by the fire.
The centre is providing the
following services through a
partnership involving a range
of organisations.

Advice

• Registration

• Initial advice on help
available

• Government grants

• Emergency financial
assistance/payments

• Housing

• Mental health services

• Doctor/nurse access

• Adult social care

• Family and children
services

• Consumer issues

• Energy suppliers

• Local business issues

• Royal Mail

• Benefits eligibility

• ID

• Visas

• Embassy inquiries

• Passports

• Driving licences

• Oyster cards

• Consumer issues e.g.
utilities/housing

• Victim Support

Frequently asked
questions

Are people in
emergency housing
being put in tower
blocks?

No. People are being
temporarily housed in
hotel accommodation in or
close to the Royal Borough
of Kensington & Chelsea.

Are people living in
parks?

We are not aware of
anybody living in parks and
there is no need for people
to be doing this. We urge
people to come to the
Westway Sports Centre
so we can help with their
housing needs.

Are people been forced
out of the borough, or
being made intentionally
homeless?

No one is being forced
to move out of London,
or being threatened with
being made homeless.
We’re working to find the
right accommodation for
those affected residents,
either in Kensington and
Chelsea or neighbouring
boroughs.

Are people moving a
long way out of the
borough?

This is not true. We
have tried to keep
accommodation as
local as possible and
we completely accept
residents' wishes to remain
close to the community.